A devastating explosion in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas has left at least one person dead and several others injured, just one day before Iran's planned naval drill in the Strait of Hormuz. The blast, which occurred on Saturday, has raised tensions in the region, with the U.S. military warning Iran not to threaten its warships or commercial traffic in the strait. State television quoted a local fire official as blaming the blast on a gas leak, but the true cause remains unclear. The explosion occurred in an apartment building, and footage from local media showed a security force member being carried out by rescuers. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard denied that a Guard navy commander had been hurt. The incident comes at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the U.S., with President Trump threatening a military strike on the country over the killing of peaceful protesters and the possible mass execution of those detained in a major crackdown over the demonstrations. Mr. Trump has also spoken with Iran in recent days, urging them to stop killing protesters and to not pursue nuclear weapons. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping lane for a fifth of all oil traded, and the U.S. has sent at least 10 warships, including an aircraft carrier and five destroyers, towards Iran's coastal waters. Egypt and Qatar have called for de-escalation and negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to achieve a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear file. The true cause of the explosion in Bandar Abbas remains under investigation, and the region remains on high alert.
